Portugal’s “Laços de Sangue” (“Blood Ties”) won the EMMY for “Best Telenovela” at the 39th Annual International Emmy Awards ceremony held Monday at the Sofitel in New York City.

The show ran for 322 episodes on Lisbon-based SIC television network ending in October 2011. “Laços de Sangue” features actresses Diana Chaves, Joana Santos and actor Diogo Morgado in the leading roles.

The other shows vying for the best telenovela Emmy were Contra las Cuerdas (Argentina, Destiny River (Brazil), and Imposter (Philippines)

Las year the winner was “Meu Amor”, also a Portuguese telenovela, produced by Plural Entertainment and run on TVI.

The ceremony kicked off with a surprise appearance by Lady Gaga. Forty nominees from a record 20 countries were competing in 10 categories for International Emmys at the ceremony hosted for the second straight year by former “Beverly Hills 90210” star Jason Priestley.

The awards are sponsored by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which includes media and entertainment figures from more than 50 countries and 500 companies.

The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1969 to promote excellence in international television programming and is the organization that presents the International Emmy Award to the best television programs produced, and initially aired outside the United States.